Can I get an Initial counseling (DA 4856) outlining my duties and a negative counseling (the same day) for not effectively performing my duties?

Can I get an Initial counseling (DA 4856) outlining my duties and a negative counseling (the same day) for not effectively performing my duties?

Short Answer

Yes, I guess you could receive both in the same day….

Discussion

I could see you receiving a counseling statement for failure to perform if your failure was for something that you should clearly already know or should have reasonable been expected to know based on your years of experience and rank.

Items to Consider

4856 Session Closing: Disagree Block

You might consider disagreeing with the counseling statement and preparing a well thought out response.

Are You Serving in an MOSQ Slot?

Another option to consider is this: If the position you are in is one that you have not been properly MOSQ trained for then the counseling may not be appropriate. For example: Let’s say you are a communications Soldier but you are being slotted in a personnel slot. If the negative counseling was because you did not properly process documentation correctly (meaning you would need the technical knowledge requirement in a school that generates an MOS) then the counseling may not be appropriate.

Mark is a Retired Command Sergeant Major with 26 years of military leadership experience. He held 3 military occupational specialties (Field Artillery, Nuclear Weapons Tech, and Ammunition Ordnance). Mark is one of the leading military authors in the fields of leadership, counseling, and training..

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